Amp can be the start of a wide-ranging transit system

My wife and I recently returned from Portland, Ore., a city of approximately the population of Nashville. It is a vibrant city offering a wide variety of entertainment, restaurants and cultural activities. What struck me the most, however, was the variety of transportation options open to the public.

Among the options were a light-rail system covering a three-county area, a streetcar system covering downtown areas, a commuter rail system and a rapid bus system. Safe to say you could get nearly anyplace in the metro area without using a car. And bicycles — thousands of them wending their way through town in special lanes that no cabbie or private automobile is allowed to cross.

I live in Cookeville, so I “don’t have a dog in this hunt.” I try to time my frequent Nashville visits to avoid the gridlock. I am very surprised to read about the shortsighted approach some people are taking regarding The Amp. If Nashville intends to maintain the reputation it has developed, it must start the long-term development of public transportation. The new bus terminal downtown offers a hub-and-spoke opportunity, of which The Amp could be only the first spoke.

Robert Bird

Cookeville 38501